WEAN Community Centre: Black Public Library

About WEAN Community Centre: Black Public Library

WEAN Community Centre is a community hub and library located on Dundas Street in downtown London, Ontario. It serves the local Black and marginalized communities by providing a space dedicated to equal opportunity, education, and economic prosperity. The center describes itself as the first and only Black community centre and hub in the city aimed at improving the lives of Black individuals and families. The center offers a wide range of programs across several categories. Its Black Community Library provides cultural education for all ages, including reading circles, Black history workshops, author talks, and children's literacy programming. Youth services for ages 10–25 include the Youth Leadership Academy, which features mentorship matching, public speaking workshops, and anti-bullying education. For families and adults, the center provides Black mental health and wellness programs such as healing circles and parenting support groups, as well as family wellness nights and newcomer settlement support. Economic and professional development is a core focus, with the Black Business Development Hub offering startup to scale-up support through micro-grant programs, business networking events, and sales and marketing workshops. The center also provides financial literacy training covering credit repair, homeownership readiness, and tax clinics. Additionally, they host creative skills programs in areas like spoken word poetry, video production, and graphic design, alongside advocacy services that help residents navigate systems and engage with local government. Established in 2020, WEAN Community Centre operates on the core values of equity, compassion, inclusivity, well-being, and transparency. The organization works to dismantle systemic racism and health inequities through strategic partnerships with various community and governmental bodies. The center is also involved in community investment projects, such as a community bond aimed at preserving a historic church and building affordable housing in the SoHo neighbourhood.